New Orleans catches a break with explosive receiver Zay Flowers sidelined, yet must solve a brutal rushing attack led by Lamar Jackson and powerhouse back Derrick Henry.
The New Orleans Saints will take every advantage they can get heading into Sunday's matchup with Baltimore, and the final injury reports provided a significant one: The Ravens probably won't have their most explosive receiver. That helps. But anybody thinking New Orleans can suddenly relax defensively hasn't been paying attention to who's standing behind Lamar Jackson.
Zay Flowers is officially doubtful with a hamstring injury after returning to practice on a limited basis Friday. Flowers exploded for 150 receiving yards and a touchdown in the first half of Baltimore's 41-23 Week 1 victory over Indianapolis before the injury ended his afternoon.
That's a big potential absence for the Baltimore Ravens. It also doesn't change what I believe should be the Saints' defensive priority Sunday. Stop Derrick Henry first and then worry about everything else.
Flowers’ Absence Would Change Baltimore’s Passing Game
Flowers was electric before leaving the opener. He gained 49 yards on Baltimore's first offensive play and later turned another reception into a 54-yard touchdown.
If he doesn't play, Rashod Bateman likely moves into the Ravens' top receiver role. Baltimore is already without rookie Ja'Kobi Lane, who was placed on injured reserve with a wrist injury.
That's significant because it potentially allows New Orleans to devote more attention to Jackson's legs and Henry without worrying quite as much about Flowers turning one missed tackle into 50 yards.
But let's not confuse "advantage" with "easy." Jackson threw for 324 yards in Week 1 while completing 17 of 25 passes. He also ran seven times for 40 yards and a touchdown.
He doesn't suddenly become ordinary because Flowers isn't available.
Derrick Henry Is Still the Problem
Henry rushed 24 times for 144 yards and three touchdowns against Indianapolis. Now consider what happened to New Orleans last Sunday.
Detroit's Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 156 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries in the Saints' 31-30 overtime loss.
That's 5.4 yards per carry. Now you're going from Gibbs to Henry which is still a huge barrier. Good luck.
The Saints don't need to completely shut Henry down — very few teams do — but allowing another 150-yard rushing afternoon is a recipe for starting the season 0-2.
Henry also enters Sunday only 98 rushing yards behind Eric Dickerson's 13,259 career yards for ninth place on the NFL's all-time rushing list.
New Orleans would prefer not to become part of that highlight package.
Cameron Jordan’s Return Couldn’t Come at a Better Time
This is where Cameron Jordan matters.
Jordan practiced fully Friday and carries no game designation, clearing the way for his 2026 debut after a hamstring injury kept him out against Detroit.
I'm less interested in Jordan's sack total Sunday than his ability to set the edge.
Keep Henry inside. Don't allow Jackson to escape contain. Make Baltimore earn every rushing yard between the tackles.
That's veteran football, and Jordan has played enough of it to understand exactly what New Orleans needs.
Chase Young, meanwhile, remains questionable with a calf injury. Receiver Chris Olave is also questionable because of a hamstring injury.
Those are two important situations to monitor before Sunday's inactive list is announced.
Saints Make Final Roster Adjustments
New Orleans also made a couple of practical moves on Saturday. The Saints elevated wide receiver Kevin Austin Jr. and long snapper Scott Daly from the practice squad for Sunday's game.
Daly's elevation was expected after veteran long snapper Zach Wood suffered a calf injury and was placed on injured reserve Friday. Daly brings considerable experience, having appeared in 76 regular-season games with Detroit and Chicago.
New Orleans also promoted rookie running back CJ Donaldson to the active roster Friday. The 6-foot-1, 230-pound undrafted rookie made his NFL debut against Detroit.
Those aren't flashy moves, but rather they're necessary ones.
My Two Pennies
Zay Flowers being doubtful absolutely helps New Orleans.
But I don't want the Saints walking into Baltimore thinking the injury report solved their biggest problem, because it didn't.
That problem weighs about 250 pounds, wears No. 22 and has spent a decade making NFL defenders reconsider their career choices.
Stop Henry before he gets downhill. Keep Jackson from breaking contain. Force Baltimore's depleted receiving corps to beat you.
And offensively, use Kamara to help Shough avoid another game where he has to throw 50-plus times just to keep New Orleans alive.
The Saints showed plenty of fight in Detroit. Sunday is about showing discipline.
Because Baltimore may be missing its biggest receiving weapon, but the Ravens still have more than enough firepower to punish every mistake New Orleans makes.
